The new chairman of the Virginia GOP said Obama 'bows to dictators that would like to destroy this country.'

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The new chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia is sounding a little bit like the old one.

Pat Mullins was elected to lead the party earlier this month by the state GOP central committee after the former chairman, Jeff Frederick, was ousted after a series of embarrassing missteps. Frederick garnered national attention during last year's presidential race for drawing a comparison between Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden.

Mullins, the new party head, said something similar while speaking to the Virginia Beach city committee meeting on Monday. An audio recording of the event was provided to CNN by a Democratic party operative.

"I'm particularly excited I'm not a Democrat," Mullins told the audience. "Since I'm not a Democrat, I don't have to defend a president who goes overseas and bows to dictators that would like to destroy this country. I'm delighted I don't have to defend him."

Mullins was referring to video shot during April's G-20 Summit in London that showed Obama lowering his head while greeting King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The White House said that Obama was not bowing, and that he shook hands with the King, who is shorter than Obama.

Fulfilling his role as the state's Republican partisan-in-chief, Mullins also disparaged Democratic National Committee chairman and Virginia governor Tim Kaine as "a part-time governor who's making a full-time salary." He called Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, who earned a Navy Cross and two purple hearts in Vietnam, an "embarrassment to everybody in this commonwealth."

A spokesman for the state Democratic Party said Mullins "ought to apologize to Virginians for personal attacks on the commander-in-chief and a decorated war hero."

The Republican Party of Virginia did not return phone calls seeking comment.

soundoff(270 Responses)

Just admit it, he bowed and stop making excuses.
Wasn't obama all about honesty and transparency or was that just talk like the tax breaks to get elected?

May 14, 2009 05:11 pm at 5:11 pm |

Shannon

So I wonder if Pat defended "W" when he kissed the Saudi King??

May 14, 2009 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |

Peter E

Hypocrisy! This guy did not object to Bush holding the hand of the same dictators, inviting them as guests to his home, pampering them, and selling our country to the Chinese just so that he can buy the oil from the Saudis. So why is Obama's gesture anything worse? It's partisan posturing, nothing else.

May 14, 2009 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

Sniffit

@ Kurt C., who said "Obama feels more comfortable hobnobbing with dictators than with people from his own country."

And apparently the GOP feels more comfortable hobnobbing with rednecked bible-thumping militia-wannabe right wing extremists that with collegues who are running the federal government.

That's precisely how it's going to go down if they keep it up: us crazy "libs" run the show while the GOP conducts a sideshow (of sorts) in backwoods areas for toothless moonshine addled crowds.

May 14, 2009 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

Phil from VA

Bring it on. VA will remain blue as long these ppl keep talking.

May 14, 2009 05:14 pm at 5:14 pm |

Ryan

peakarack May 14th, 2009 4:24 pm ET
Barack Hussein Obama did bow to the king of Saudi that allow woman to be stone to dead for being cheated on her husband.
Saudi king or his governments that fund most of the terrorists around the world that for yrs to kill all of us

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Peakarack, Bush held Saudi Princes hand and kiss him and your point is?

May 14, 2009 05:14 pm at 5:14 pm |

Pat F

@tee – No, it doesn't make me "kinda wonder about whether 9/11 was a set up". It makes me wonder whether all Bush haters are delusional conspiracy-minded nut-cases.

May 14, 2009 05:15 pm at 5:15 pm |

Rosko

I am in disbelief that this refers to a Saudi! Doesn't this guy remember the Bush-Saudi make out sessions just off camera? Does he want our president to act like an a–hole on a world stage?

May 14, 2009 05:16 pm at 5:16 pm |

Lori

I'll say it once again. PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH IS FRIENDS WITH OSAMA BIN LADEN'S BROTHER!!! Days before 9/11 he was having dinner with the younger Bin Laden. If that was Barack Hussein Obama dining with Bin Laden's brother, the REPUBLICANS WOULD BE ALL OVER HIM FOR IT (remember Ayers). Give me a break, Republicans. George W Bush has actual ties and more dealings with that same Royal Saudi family and other notable infamous Saudi families (the bin Laden's) so give me a break. Check your facts! I'll take bowing over dealings and a relationship anyday!

May 14, 2009 05:16 pm at 5:16 pm |

Pat F

SNIFFIT – how nice of you to say such wonderful things about John McCain! You're on a winning streak – two for two!

May 14, 2009 05:17 pm at 5:17 pm |

Ryan

EDDIE May 14th, 2009 4:38 pm ET

Didn't Bush hold hands and kiss the saudi king?

--------------------------------

Yup. He did.

May 14, 2009 05:17 pm at 5:17 pm |

Paul

I don't care if he slept with him, the man is proving to be a great president. Do any of you know any Muslims? The ones I knew were mortified by 9/11. They fear their right-wing nut-jobs just as much as we do. So keep your crusade rhetoric where it belongs. The real "Patriots" are taking America back once again.

Oh good grief! If someone were to meet the Queen of England, you do a little bow or curtsey. It's called PROTOCOL. It's no different than a handshake or a salute. Just because the people in the US don't bow in greeting doesn't mean that other countries don't.

May 14, 2009 05:21 pm at 5:21 pm |

Ryan

Scot, did you forget that Bush held Saudi Princes hand and kiss him?[The architect of the Sep. 11th terrorist attack on this great Country]

May 14, 2009 05:22 pm at 5:22 pm |

Not a Muslim

Listen up once and for all: we are NOT a Christian nation. Our Constitution explicitly states that there shall be a separation of Church from State to prevent one religious group from having too much power/influence. Our country was founded by white Christian men, but they were wise enough to understand that religion and government do not mix.

May 14, 2009 05:23 pm at 5:23 pm |

Matt

Bush kissed them and they still hated him. Get better talking points!!!

May 14, 2009 05:25 pm at 5:25 pm |

Tim

Pat Mullins is ignorant. That about sums it up.

May 14, 2009 05:27 pm at 5:27 pm |

Boudin

If it keeps going as it is now, we shall all be as one someday "comrade"

May 14, 2009 05:29 pm at 5:29 pm |

2pacolypse Now

At least we have a President who is respected and revered by world leaders and is frequently asked for input, dialogue, and future working together between nations. I guess the ReThuglicans forgot how rudely George W. Bush was treated at the last world meetings before he left office, when all the world leaders walked right past him and refused to even shake his hand for the group photo op. My how selective amnesia takes place with these goons.

Now for this latest GOP goon to be rolled out, why is he trying to take VA back to the Commonwealth title it long earned for the ignorance he's spitting out of his mouth. The type of language they are using in referencing not only the Commander in Chief and elected President of our nation, but the even more filthy comments about Jim Webb, who risked his life fighting for the freedom these GOOPS have to say such terrible things. It's amazing, and they think somehow people are gonna respond in a positive way to this and elect them? They have to be kidding?